Embroidering-machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. T. SMITH. EMBROIDBRING MACHINE. 7

N0. 554,428. Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

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- R. T. SMITH.

EMBROIDERING MACHINE.

No. 554,428. Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

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R. T. SMITH.

EMBROIDBRING MACHINE.

- No. 554,428. Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

R. T. SMITH.

EMBROIDERING MACHINE. No. 554,428. Patented Feb 11, 1896.

m0 Model.) 5 Sheet's Sheet 5.

R. T. SMITH. I EMBROIDERING MACHINE. No. 554,428. Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

BOSWELL T. SMITH, or NAsnUmNEw HAMPSHIRE.

EMBROlDERlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,428, dated February 11, 18 96.

Application filed fieptember 22, 1394.. Serial No. 528,788. or.) model.)

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that I, RosWELL T. SMITH, of Nashua, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in EmbroideringMachines; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to embroidering-m a chines of that class in which needles are thrust through the cloth from one side to the other, each needle being supplied with a thread of definite length and the cloth being shifted from side to side or up and down, as the case may be, to determine the length and direction of the successive stitches. The Swiss straight hand-machines are examples of this class, each thread being drawn taut at each successive stitch by the hand of the operator. My present improvements are particularly designed for application to machines of this class already constructed, although none the less applicable to new machines. WVith the addition of my improvements the hand-machine becomes an automatic power-machine, in which the operator has only to attend to the shifting of the cloth and to the piecing up of broken threads. It thus becomes possible to convert a hand-machine into an automatic power-machine at a comparatively small cost and at a cost very much less than that of a new automatic machine, while at the same time the operation of the converted machine is not only quite as rapid as that of any powermachine known to me, but at the same time is much more efficient and productive of better and more uniform results.

The invention relates mainly to the mechanism for actuating the hooks which, in place of the hands of the operator, draw the threads taut at each successive stitch. Incidentally to this main portion of the invention I have sought to modify and improve certain other parts of the machine, all as more particularly hereinafter set forth. In other power-machines hooks commonly advance and engage the threads between the needles and cloth and then retire, taking up the slack of the threads from the other side of the cloth. As

the threads are in the outset of definite length with one end attached to the needle, they are shortened at each successive stitch to an extent which depends upon the length of the stitch. Consequently the actuating mechanism of the take-up hook-bars must be so arranged as to permit the movement of the take up hook-bars to be successively shorter. Va-

for this general purpose, but, so far as I am aware, without practical success. I have sought to make the tension on the threads themselves determine the extent of movement of the take-up hook-bars at each operation, and have therefore introduced into the actuating mechanism of the take-up hook-bars a yielding coupling which permits the take-up hook-bars to stop when the tension of the threads reaches a certain degree, while the mechanism complete their necessarily-definite movements.

The particular construction which I have devised for the embodiment and illustration of my invention will be described in detail hereinafter and is shown inthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a two-story machine embodying my improvements, the machine being broken out to save space on the drawings. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, the cloth-frame and the pantograph mechanism being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail view, on a larger scale, showing a partial transverse section of the machine, some parts being broken out and others omitted in order to save space and prevent. confusion. Figs. 3 and 3 are sectional views through the main shaft on different planes and showing the two sets of cams and their co-operating parts which actuate the thread-bar and the gripper-jaws shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the take-up hook-bar-actuating devices. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 00 w of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the slide in section and parts of its connections and the slide-bar in side elevation. Fig. 7 is a detail side view, on alarger scale, of the devices for tripping one of the dogs of the slide.

Figs. 8 and 9 are front and rear views showing rious mechanical devices have been devised positively-moving parts of the actuating the devices at one end of the take-up hook-bar for supporting the same and permitting its lateral or shogging motion. Fig. 10 is a side View of the blank from which a hook is made, and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the completed hook. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another form of the hook. Fig. 13 is a detail view of one of the .cams which moves the gripper-carriage, and Fig. 14 is a similar view of a slightly-modified cam for the same pur pose.

The cloth-frame A, which may be of any desirable or suitable construction, as my present invention is not concerned therewith, is represented in the drawings, Fig. 1, as adapted 'to receive and support two webs or pieces of cloth A A one above another, in position to be embroidered and as being itself supported by a pantograph-frame A of usual construction and having a handle A by which the shifting of the cloth-frame may be effected in the usual manner. I also employ in conj unction with the cloth-frame a thread-bar 13, Figs. 1 and 3, on each side of the cloth for each row of needles, there being in the machine represented in the drawings two rows of needles and their co-operating devices, one set above another. The primary function of the thread-bar B, as is well understood, is to present a support over which the threads may be drawn as the hooks move down so that the fibers of the cloth may not be pulled down and displaced.

In operating my machine I have found that there is some tendency of the threads to break when the thread-bars B B are held rigidly and prevent the cloth from yielding at all while the threads are being drawn taut, and in seeking to overcome this difficulty I have found that it can be done by permitting the cloth to yield somewhat just as the threads are being drawn taut, substantially as in a hand-machine. It is also necessary that the upper edge of the thread-bar shall be on a level with the needles when the threads are drawn over it and shall sink out of the way when the grippers come to the cloth. Accordingly each thread-bar B is carried by arms I) I), (see Figs. 2 and 3,) which are pivoted to arms 1/ 1), depending from a shaft b mounted in fixed bearings. -A horizontal arm 6 on the same shaft is connected bya link or links b to a lever b, which, by the action of a spring, as at b, is held in contact with a cam 11 on the main shaft 0 of the machine. The arms I) I) rest upon the gripper-bar D and are formed with an incline or cam surface Z1 to co-operate with the bar D. Through these means the thread-bar B is allowed to sink as the grippers approach the cloth, is caused to rise as the grippers recede, and as the threads are drawn taut by the hooks the thread-bar B recedes from the cloth, the cams b being properly timed for this purpose. The cloth is therefore permitted to be pulled somewhat to one side by the threads, and the elasticity thus secured is found to obviate altogether the breaking of the threads to which I have referred.

It will be understood that a separate cam is provided for the thread-bars on each side of the cloth and that these cams are so set that only those thread-bars on that side of the cloth toward which it is being pulled will be swung away.

The main shaft 0 may be conveniently driven through gears C C (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) from a counter-shaft G to which power may be transmitted in any convenient manner.

As indicated hereinbefore, the present invention is not concerned with the devices for operating the needles; but in order that the description of the machine may be complete I shall herein briefly refer to such means. The needles D D, as is well understood, are double-pointed, so that they may be forced through the cloth from either side, and are provided with a single eye for engagement with the thread. The needles are passed through the cloth from one side to the other by the action of a set of grippers I) (see Fig. 3) on one side of the cloth and a corresponding set of grippers, D 011 the opposite side of the cloth. The grippers are carried by a gripper-bar D and consist each of a fixed lower jaw, d, and a movable upper jaw, d, between which the needlecmay be seized and held. All of the movable jaws of each set of grippers are arranged to close simultaneously upon the needles by the action of a cam-shaft D which is mounted in suitable bearings on the machine-frame and is rocked at the proper time to close the grippers or to permit them to open by means of an arm (1 (see Figs. 1 and 3,) a link or links d, a lever d, and a cam (Z 011 the main shaft 0, or other suitable mechanism. The levers one for all of the cam-shafts D on each side of the cloth, may be held in contact with their respective cams d by the action of a tilting frame or cradle d on the opposite ends of which the lovers respectively rest, and the cams themselves are so set upon the shaft that the operation of the grippers shall be properly timed.

The gripper-bars D in the machine represented in the drawings are supported on each side of the machine by a suitable frame D and the latter is mounted upon carriages D, which may be reeiprocated to and fro on tracks D at each end of the machine. The carriages are reciprocated substantially in the usual manner through their connection by links D with levers D which are pivoted, as at d", on the frame of the machine, and at their lower ends engage grooves in cams D (see Fig. on the main shaft C, the cams being so set as to cause the gripper-bars to move up to the cloth at the proper time to receive the needles from the opposite set of grippers and then to retire to draw the needles and the thread through the cloth. The groove of the cam shown in Fig. 14: has a jog at (Z to produce a slight movement of the IIO carriage at the proper time to take up a little slack in the threads.

As is well understood in machines of this description, the needles have but a short range of movement, while the length of the threads employed is much greater, hooks or other devices being employed to engage the threads between the cloth and the needles held by the grippers and to draw down the threads until the stitch is made tight. As the threads are shortened more or less by each successive stitch, it is necessary that the range of movement of the hooks shall be successively shorter, and it is in the mechanism for actuating these hooks in the proper manner, so that the range of their movement shall diminish in proportion as the threads are taken up by the stitches, that the main portion of my present invention particularly consists. V

Before proceeding to the description of the mechanism for operating the hooks to draw down the threads I will describe the hooks themselves and their immediate means of support. The take-up hooks E E rise from beneath the threads and then descend, carrying the threads with them. Consequently the point of each hook must be directed downward. I have found that simple hooks will sometimes lose the threads at certain points therefore devised a hook which will be free from this objection. Each hook, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11,,has a shank e, by which it is secured to the take-up hook-bar and is also provided with a doW11wardly-directed point e for engagement with the thread. It is also provided with a shoulder e at or near the extremity of the body of the hook to form a bearing for the thread and with an incline e to direct the thread to the shoulder. The portion which forms the incline and shoulder is offset from the plane of the point of the hook, so that the thread may cross such plane under the point of the hook and over. the shoulder c For convenience in manufacture the hook is stamped out of a sheet; or plate of metal in the form represented in Fig. 10, theplatc having an enlargement at its extremity to form the incline above referred to and such en largement above the point of the hook being notched to form the shoulder. The plate is then bent on the dotted line of Fig. 10 to bring the shoulder and incline into the proper position, the bent-over portion not being tightly pressed down upon the standing portion. As represented in Fig. 12, it is desirable in some classes of work to give the hook also an upwardly-extending finger c to prevent the thrcad from flying over upon the wrong side of the hook.

The hooks are secured to the takeup hookbar F, (see Figs. 1 and 8,) at intervals corresponding with the needles and grippers.-

The bar F is supported to move up and down,

being mounted upon carriages F F, which" threads.

' are themselves mounted upon guide-rods F respective grippers they would, undersome circumstances, strike the needles or the grippers in their upward movement to engage the In order to prevent this the ends of the take-up hook-bar are slotted longitudinally, as at f f, to receive pins f f on the carriages F F, so that the take-up hook-bar may be shogged or moved bodily in the line of its length with respect to the carriages F F. To each take-up hook-bar is fixed a pin f which in the upward movement of the take-up hook-bar strikes a dog f which is pivoted upon a fixed part of the frame and,

the dog being suitably bent or inclined, the take-up hook-bar is shogged or thrust bodily to one side far enough to enable the hooks to avoid the needles and grippers. As the hooks reach the upward limit of their movement the the threads on their downward movement.

During the downward movement of the takeup hook-bar the dog f yields as it is struck by the pin f and consequently the bar is not shifted. in the movement of the hooks, and I have i The carriages F F are connected by links f to the vertically-reciprocating slides by means of which movement is imparted to the at f for this purpose, such cord being led about a suitable pulley and attached to a weight or spring. The upper and lower carriages on the same side may be connected by rods f It is obviously necessary that the take-up hook-bar shall rise to the same height at each reciprocation and, when it is considered that it is the function of the hooks to draw the thread tight for each stitch and that the length of the threads is reduced more or less by each stitch, it will also be obvious that the length of the downward movement of the take-up hook-bar should be successively less and less by the length of the thread taken up in each stitch. Various mechanical devices have heretofore been produced which have for their object to make the range of movement of the take-up hook-bar successively shorter at each stitch, but it has been practically impossible to gage the reduction of the movement of the take-up hook-bar exactly according to the length of the last stitch taken, and such few mechanical devices as have been produced for this purpose have been complicated in the extreme and correspondingly liable to derangeinent. Moreover, because of the inability to shorten the movement of the take-up hook-bar exactly as required, it happens frequently that the threads are left slack or that they are broken by undue tension.

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It has been my object herein to so construct and arrange devices for actuating the takeup hook-bar that the tension of the threads at successive operations shall determine the point at which the take-up hook-bar shall cease its downward movement. To do this in the most convenient manner and with the least complication of mechanism I have introduced into the actuating mechanism a yielding device which permits the movement of certain parts to cease while the movement of other parts continues through their definite and uniform range. The preferred arrangement of this mechanism will now be described. The carriages F F, which support .the take-up hook-bars upon one side of the machine are coupled together by rods f Fig. 1, so that but a single actuating mechanism is necessary for the take-up hook-bars at each side. One of the take-up hook-bar carriages at each end of the machine is connected by a link f, as before described, to a verticallyreciprocating slide G or G, the two slides G and G being at opposite ends of the machine but on the same side thereof. (See Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.) One of these slides, G, at one end of the machine preferably has a frictional connection with its actuating mechanism and has fixed thereto a rack G which meshes with a gear G upon one end of a shaft G Upon the other end of the shaft G is fixed a gear G which meshes with a rack G fixed to the slide G at the other end of the machine, the latter being preferably a plain slide-bar which is guided to move vertically in suitable ways supported by the frame of the machine. This arrangement insures the same movement of both ends of the take-up hook-bar and makes it unnecessary to provide at both ends of the machine the mechanism presently to be described through which the required movement is imparted to the take-up hook-bars. The weight of the racks and connected parts may be counterbalanced by a cord attached to a weight or to a fusee and spring, which parts are not necessary to be shown herein.

The slide G is suitably constructed to embrace a vertically-reciprocating bar H, (see Figs. 1, at, 5, 6, and 7,) and is provided with a shoe 9 and a spring g and an adj ustingscrew g (see Figs. 5 and 6,) whereby the friction between the slide G and the bar H may be regulated to a nicety, the said slide being capable of movement longitudinally upon said bar. The bar H may be reciprocated by any suitable mechanism. I have shown it as extended downwardly and provided with a rack H, which meshes with a gear I. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The latter is mounted to rotate freely upon bearings in the frame of the machine and meshes with a corresponding rack H formed on a bar H", which is in all respects similar to the bar H, but is adapted to impart movement through the slide G, at the same end but on the opposite side of the machine to the take-up hook-bars on the opposite side of the machine. One or the other of said bars H or H is connected by a pitman J (see Figs. 1 and 2) to a crank J upon the shaft O, As the take-up hook-bars upon opposite sides of the machine operate alternately, one set rising as the other set descends, this arrangement insures the proper relative action of the two sets of take-up hook-bars.

The devices presently to be described for imparting motion from the slide-bars G or G at opposite sides of the machine to their respective sets of take-up hook-bars are exactly similar, each to the other, and I shall hereinafter confine my description of the construction of these devices to one set, it being understood that the same description with the same letters of reference applies equally well to the other set.

It will be understood that the slide G (and consequently, through the described connection, the slide G) moves with the slide-bar II during the reciprocations of the latter until the tension of the threads engaged by the take-up hook-bar, which is carried by the slides G and G at opposite ends and on the same side, becomes sufficient to hold theslides G and G stationary, while the bar H continues to the full extent of its downward movement. By regulation of the screw g the checking of the slide G at the proper point by the thread can be assured.

It is desirable, in order to prevent accidental movement of the slide G with respect to the bar H, through entanglement of a thread or roughness of the threads and the consequent hard movement through the cloth, to provide means whereby the slide may be locked positively to the bar during the greater part of ICC the reciprocation of the latter and maybe re- V leased from such positive engagement, both at the end of the upward movement of the bar and just before the downward movement of the slide with the bar is to crease, to then permit the hook-bar to continue its movement under the influence of the frictional connection already referred to or of momentum or of springs. I have provided such means and will proceed to describe the same.

Upon one side of the bar H is formed a rack H Fig. 4 which is engaged by a springpressed dog 9 which is pivoted on the slide G. The upper end of said dog is provided with a cam projection g for contact with a projection from the frame of the machine to release the slide during the upward movement thereof at the exact point required for the termination of the upward movement of the hooks. The bar H is also provided with a third rack H Fig. 4., which is engaged by a spring-pressed dog 9 also pivoted on the slide G. Provision is made for disengaging the dog 9 from the rack H just before the slide should come to a stop, thereby permitting the slide 'to be moved farther only by its frictional engagement with the bar H.

It will be readily understood that the point at which the dog g is to be disengaged from I have provided for this purpose comprise a fixed ratchet-bar K, a slide K mounted thereon and normally drawn upward by a cord It and a weight or spring. (Not shown.) Upon the slide K is pivoted a dog in, Figs. 4 and 7, which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet K, being pressed by a spring 10'. The tail k of the dog forms an incline or cam-surface for co-operation with the dog g through an adjustable pin 9 and is itself pivoted, as at 70 to swing laterally with respect to the body of the dog it and has its lower end beveled off, as at 7%. The slide K is also provided with a fixed stop it for engagement with the pin 9 of the dog 9 The spring g ,which co-operates with the dog 9 of the slide G, is stiffer than the spring k, which co-operates with the dog it to limit the movement of the dog after its disengagement from the ratchet-bar K.

It will now be understood that when the slide G approaches the limit of its downward movement the pin g will strike the cam surface 70 of the tail k of the dog 76 and will disengage said dog 76. from the ratchet K, forcing the tail of the dog against the stop it. The continued downward movement of the pin g against the cam-surface 70 effects the disengagement of the dog g from the rack H and therefore leaves the slide G to be carried farther only by fiictional contact with the slide-bar H, and to be stopped as soon as the tension of the threads is sufficient.

As soon as the dog 7c is disengaged from the rack K the slide K will fly up under the influence of the cord and weight until the stop 10 thereof strikes the pin 9 of the dog 9 Then the slide K will move down again with the slide G until the latter ceases its downward movement. As the pin g during this time has passed from the end of the tail 70 of the dog 7c the slide K will be held in the lowest positionto which it moves with the slide G by the engagement of the dog 7t with the ratchet-bar K, and it will remain in that position until the dog 70 is again disengaged at the next downward movement of the slide G. As the slide G moves up from its position the pin g strikes against the beveled end of the tail 7& and thrusts the latter to one side without disturbing the engagement of the dog itself with the ratchet. The movement of the slide K upward after the release of the dog 76 until the movement is stopped by contact with the pin 9 is greater than the subsequent movement of the slide K downward with the slide G, and, as the length of the latter movement isdetermined by the shortening of the threads due to the last stitch taken, the slide K is consequently left after each stitch the length of said stitch higher on the bar K.

Therefore the action of the cam-surface k upon the ping to disengage the dog g takes place correspondingly sooner at each reciprocation, and the slide G is released from positive engagement with the slide-bar H sooner at each successive reciprocation of the slidebar, thus leaving the slide Gin frictional engagement with its bar for about the same length of time before the slide is checked at each reciprocation. The tail k of the dog may be held in normal position by a spring 70 Having now described the construction of the various parts of the improved machine, and having explained the operation of each part by .itself, I will now set forth briefly the mode of operation of the complete machine in order that the relations of the several parts may be more readily understood.

. The shifting of the cloth-frame Ais effected by the pantograph mechanism A in the usual manner, and does not in any way depend upon the other parts of the machine, care being taken only that the cloth-frame is shifted at such time that it will not interfere with the proper operation of the otherparts of the machine. The cloth being in position and the needles being held by the rear grippers, for example, with the rear hooks in engagement with the threads at or near their lowest position, the rear grippers move up to the cloth and force the needles through the same. Then, the respective cam-shafts 13.

being properly timed the rear grippers release the needles and the front grippers seize them.

thread-bar B rising to the level of the needles and being held stationary at this time. Next or at the same time the front take-up hook-bar F rises and is thrust momentarilyto one side by the contact of the pin f with the dog f so that the hooks do not strike the needles or grippers from below and at the same time drop the threads previously held, and immediately descends, the hooks engaging the threads and drawing them down until the stitches are drawn taut, the take-up hookbars on the rear side of the machine rising to the same time and at the same rate of movement until the threads are released therefrom as before. As the front take-up hook-bar F descends the slide G connected therewith by the link f is held in positive engagement with its actuating-bar H until the slack of the threads is nearly taken up. Then the slide is released from positive engagement, as described, and thereafter moves with its actuating-bar through frictional contact therewith until the tension on the threads becomes so great as to hold the takeup hoolcbar and the slides from further movement. At this time at the same time equalizing the tension upon all of the threads. At this time the front grippers move up to the cloth to pass the needles through the same, and a corresponding series of the operations takes place at the rear of the machine. The thread -bar preferably moves back to its normal position as soon as the grippers begin to move toward the cloth.

It will be readily understood that the general idea which I have herein set forth of introducing a yielding connection into the actuating mechanism of the take-up hook-bars might be embodied in many different mechanical devices. Ihe particular construction which I have represented herein has been found by actual test to be thoroughly practical and efficient, and 011 this account, as well as because of its simplicity, it is to be preferred. Moreover, it will be seen that the use of a positive coupling in addition to the yield ing coupling is not absolutely necessary, but is adopted as a safeguard. Likewise this positive coupling and the disengagement thereof at the proper time might be effected in a variety of ways other than that specifically described, and it will be further understood that under some conditions of operation the positive coupling, being capable of control to a nicety, may be made to do all of the work of drawing the threads taut, the frictional coupling being then dispensed with. Accordingly, in these respects in particular I wish it to be understood that the particular mechanism shown and described is so shown and described for purposes of explanation and illustration, and not with the intention of thereby limiting the invention to the exact construction and arrangement.

I claim as my invention 7 1. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar, a slide positively connected with said take-up hook-bar, and a rectilinearly-reciprocating slide-bar, said slide having frictional engagement with said slide-bar, whereby the movement of the take-up hook-bar and of the slide is checked by the tension on the threads and the slidebar continues its movement relative to the slide, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an embroidering-machine, the combi nation with a take-up hook-bar, of a rectilinearly-movable slide-bar, a crank and pitman for reciprocating said slide-bar, a slide mounted frictionally on said slide-bar, and a connection from said slide to said take-up hookbar, whereby the movement of the hook-bar and of the slide is checked by the tension on the threads and the slide-bar continues its movement relative to the slide, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar, of a slide-bar, means for reciprocating said slide-bar, a slide mounted frictionally upon said slide-bar, a rack secured to said slide, a second slide having also a rack, a shaft and gears intermediate said racks, and connections'from said racks to the corresponding ends of said takeup hook-bar, substantially as shown and de scribed.

at. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with take-up hook-bars on opposite sides of the machine, of two racks, a crank and pitman connected to one of said racks, a gear meshing with both of said racks to transmit movement from one to the other, and connections from said racks to the take-up hookbars on the respective sides of the machine, substantially as shown and described.

5. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with take-up hook-bars on opposite sides of the machine, of two slide-bars formed wit-l1 racks respectively, means for reciprocating one of said racks, a gear meshing with both of said racks to transmit movement from one to the other, slides mounted frictionally 011 said slide-bars, and connections from said slides to the take-up hook-bars on the respective sides of the machine, substantially as shown and described.

6. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a gripper-bar and means for actuating it, of a take-up hook-bar, hooks attached rigidly to said take-up hook-bar, means for reciprocatil'ig it toward and from the grippers, and means for shifting said takeup hook-bar bodily in a longitudinal direction as it approaches the grippers, whereby the hooks clear the grippers, substantially as shown and described.

7. In an embroidering-machine, the combination of a take-up hook-bar having take-up hooks fixed rigidly thereon, carriages upon which said take-up hook-bar is mounted with capacity for longitudinal movement, means for reciprocating said carriages and means to shift the take-up l1ook-bar longitudinally as it approaches the grippers, whereby the hooks clear the grippers, substantially as shown and described.

8. In an embroidering-machine, the combination of a take-up hook-bar having take-up hooks fixed rigidly thereon, carriages upon which said take-up hook-bar is mounted with capacity for longitudinal movement, means for reciprocating said carriages, a spring to draw said take-up hook-bar in one direction, a cam-dog pivoted 011 the frame of the ma chine, and a projection from said take-up hook-bar to engage said dog and effect movement of the take-up hook-bar in opposition to the spring, substantially as shown and described.

9. A hook for embroidering-machines, the same comprising a shank by which it may be secured in place, a downwardly directed point, a shouldered piece offset from the plane of the point and an incline to guide the thread upon said shoulder, substantially as shown and described.

10. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a gripper bar, a take-up hookbar and means for actuating them, of athreadbar resting normally near the cloth and means to withdraw said thread-bar from the cloth in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the cloth to permitthe cloth to yield in the same direction as the threads are drawn taut, substantially as shown and described.

11. In an embroideringmachine, the com bination with a gripper-bar, a take-up hookbar and means for actuating them, of a threadbar resting normally near the cloth, and a cam and intermediate connections to withdraw said thread-bar from the cloth in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the cloth and permit the cloth to yield in the same direction as the threads are drawn taut, substantially as shown and described,

12. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a gripper-bar, a take-up hookbar and means for actuating them, of a threadbar resting normally near the cloth, means to move the thread-bar away from and toward the cloth in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the cloth and means to raise said thread-bar as it approaches the cloth and to lower it as it recedes, substantially as shown and described.

13. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a gripper-bar, a take-up hookbar and means for actuating them, of a threadbar, links supporting said thread-bar and resting upon a relatively-fixed support, said links havinginclines on their under sides, and means to move said links away from and toward the cloth, substantially as shown and described.

14:. In an cmbroidering-machine, the combination with a reciprocating take-up hookbar, of devices for effecting a positive engagement between said take-up hook-bar and its actuating mechanism and means to'effect a disengagement of said devices at successively different points in the movement of the takeup hook-bar, substantially as shown and described.

15. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a reciprocating take-up hookbar, of devices for effecting a positive engage ment between said take-up hook-bar and its actuating mechanism, a slide to effect the dis engagement of said devices and means to shift said slide at each successive reciprocation of the take-up hook-bar, substantially as shown and described.

16. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar and a slide to which it is connected, of a reciprocating slide-bar, a dog to effect positive engagement of said slide and slide-bar and a device to effect the disengagement of said dog, substantially as shown and described.

17. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar and a slide to which it is connected, of a reciprocating slide-bar, a dog to effect positive engagement of said slide and bar, a second slide mounted near the path of said first-named slide and supporting a device to effect the disengagement of said dog, and means to shift the position of said second slide at each reciprocation of the take-up hook-bar, substantially as shown and described.

18. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar and a slide to which it is connected, of a reciprocating slide-bar, a dog to effect positive engagement of said slide and bar, a fixed rack-bar'parallel with said slide-bar, a. slide mounted on said rack-bar, means to move the said slide upwardly on the rack-bar, a dog mounted on said slide and engaging said rack-bar, means whereby the last-named dog is disengaged and the lastnamed slide permitted to move upwardly to a limited extent as the first-named slide approaches the second-named slide, and means whereby the dog of the first slide is disengaged during the further movement of said slide, substantially as shown and described.

19. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar, and a slide to which it is connected, of a reciprocating slide-bar, a dog to effect positive engagement of said slide and bar, a fixed rack-bar parallel with said slide-bar, a slide mounted on said rack-bar, means to move said slide upwardly on the rack-bar, a dog mounted on said slide and engaging said rack-bar, said dog having a cam-surface to co-operate with the dog of the first-named slide whereby the disengagement in succession of the two dogs is effected, and a stop or projection on the rack-bar slide to engage the dog on the first-named slide and limit the movement of the rack-bar slide when released, substantially as shown and described.

20. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar, of mechanism for reciprocating said hook-bar, a frictional coupling being included in said mechanism, a device to effect a positive engagement between the frictionally-connected parts of said mechanism, and means to effect a disengagement of said device at a predetermined point in the movement of the hook-bar and thereby to leave the take-up hook-bar to be actuated further through the frictional connection alone substantially as shown and described.

21. In an embroidering machine, the combination with a reciprocating take-up hookbar, of devices for effecting a frictional engagement between said take-up hook-bar and its actuating mechanism and devices for effecting a positive engagement between said hook-bar and its actuating mechanism, a slide to effect the disengagement of said last-named devices and means to shift said slide at each successive reciprocation of the take-up hookbar, substantially as shown and described.

22. In an embroidering-machine, the combination with a take-up hook-bar and a slide to which it is connected, of a reciprocating slidebztr, said slide having 2t frictional engagement with said slide-bar, a dog to effect positive engagement of said slide and slide-bar and a device to effect the disengagement of said dog, substantially as shown an d described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ROSWELL T. SMITH. lVitnesscs:

FANNY H. LOVELAND, O. L. LOVELAND. 

